Buford Pusser and the Ambush on New Hope Road ???

[cur2thapur2009]

my mayor is one of the original mob guys that the sheriff buford pusser ran out of town. lol

[ThePrezObozo]

mikeelam2010 - You are a redneck hick with way too much time on your hands...

[jcraigb]

this dumbass mikeelam2010 must be kin to some of those stateline trash trouble makers

[meddetect10]

@jcraigb Probably a grandson of ole Louise Hasacock! He has to have some interest in trashing the Pusser name this way. He needs to shut the hell up.

[MsSammy1981]

to think Buford killed his own wife is absolutely ridiculous!!!!!

[blacksheep21000]

I agree with you about the movie ,i was going by the book the twelfth of august but i dont know how much of it is true, i would guess 30 or 40%.

[clydesplace]

Gee, 38 years later and some weenies still have an ax to grind with Buford Pusser. Who cares? Go do something with your life. Whatever your grudge is or your family's grudge, it's time to give it up. Was Buford Pusser perfect? No, and he never claimed to be from what I've read and never claimed the movie was an entirely accurate depiction of his life. Hollywood biographies, any of them, seldom are. Get over it.

[mikeelam2010]

I suggest that you have not researched this matter beyond watching the "Walking Tall" movies. the real story was much, much different.

[blacksheep21000]

I agree with these guys i think this is a lame attempt to scar the name of buford pusser and his family.

[Thirdgen83]

@blacksheep21000 I used to think like you, but then I looked at the evidence (and the lack of evidence in Pusser's claims). The movie is 90% FICTION, just like 99% of all movies ever produced. Instead of foolishly believing a Hollywood MOVIE, you should do some real research on the subject. The Truth is stranger than fiction...

[Kevilena]

oh hell, shotgun , rifle, pistol, who cares. Don't be tedious. Are you saying the man shot himself in the face, or had someone else shoot him ...in some insane plot to kill his wife? Doesn't wash, his injuries were to grevious. Men who do this give themselves very minor or strategically non life threatening, non multilating wounds. None of this passes the common sense test.

[mikeelam2010]

@Kevilena Maybe you should do some real research and see just how short a time he was really off work. Were the injuries as bad as what you say? Where did you get your information? Did you check it out or simply get caught up in the story? Spend a little time and look for the truth!

[elvez1231]

@Kevilena Were you there? Unless you were - then you don't know - period. Based on everything I've read - the ambush did happen the way Pusser described it. Of course there are unanswered questions and will probably remain unanswered. Seems to me the man did some remarkable things and like most stories about "bigger than life" figures - the stories have been exaggerated. I'll say this - I would have loved to interview the man.

[mikeelam2010]

Did you bother to speak with anyone other than PUSSER FRIENDS??? Of course they are going to say only positive things about Buford. What kind of research is that??? Did you ask them about the Pusser marital separations as a motive for Pauline's death? Did you ask if they really believed that at the second ambush site the alleged trigger man could have actually missed Buford 11 out of twelve times at a range of 3 to 5 feet as he was sitting still???Probably not. What did you ask them?

[mikeelam2010]

@Darthvader710 The truth is what dishonors the surviving family members.

[mcgregordaniel1]

Poor quality video with no basis and in very poor taste to surviving members of Buford Pusser's family.

[crwdawg1]

Mike is probably one of Louise's sons and she had no idea who the father was...you POS!!! If you did not know the Pusser family, much less Buford, you have no idea what you are talking about. Find a job with the National Enquirer and make up more stories, maybe the space aliens in New Mexico would be a new start for you stupid!

[mikeelam2010]

@crwdawg1 At least I wouldn't be working at McDonalds like you.

[Kevilena]

OK, what are you suggesting, Pusser killed his own wife, then shot himself in the face with a shotgun?

[mikeelam2010]

@Kevilena There was no shotgun used in the shooting. Where did you get that piece of information?

[MudSlinger1969]

why would his loving wife be in the car with him on a call if she didnt love him anymore ?

[mikeelam2010]

LOL... ike I should respond to a dimwit who posts a photo such as you have on your profile.

Thats tells everyone what they need to know about you.

[OrrBobby4]

This mikeelam guy is the equivalent of a bar room lawyer. A real authority in his own mind!

None of us were there in 1975 , and neither was mike.

Either mike is related to Buford's adversaries , or he has something to gain. And if mike has NOTHING to gain , I would have to conclude that mike has a really dull life!

hahahahaha Stick THAT in your Caddy and smoke it.

OH , and you should slow down near residences when doing your scientific experiments.

[mikeelam2010]

First, the Cadillac was a newer model and in tip top shape, not an older, run down model as you suggest. The point is, the Cadillac was not even close to being in firing position. We were attempting to see if the Cadillac story was even a possibility. It wasn't. I suggest that you take a Cadillac to the church on New Hope Road and do you own recreation if you don't like the results we got. No agenda here other than looking for the truth in the Pusser legend. There Isn't as much '

[horsekz94]

ou guys can throw this around all day. I used to restore caddys and most made from 1959 and on in good shape with good shocks were bad to the bone. Hell yes they weight a bunch but the engines sure as hell kept up. Try this coarse with a restored caddy instead of something used up, I think it would change this conversation!

[evilresident20]

are you not Louise Hathcocks nephew?

[mikeelam2010]

@evilresident20 LOL...NO! I am a former law enforcement officer who became interested in the real story of Buford Pusser. The movies made a hero out of him as did WR Morris, however his real story is very different from the one they told.

I suggest that you forget everything you think you know about Buford, his wife and family and start from the beginning. Do your own research. Start at the beginning and go to the very end. Check files, photos and documentation. Forget the movies

[mikeelam2010]

@GJNCA lol...I doubt that she just wanted to go along. Honestly, who wants to get uo at 4:30 am to go to a disturbance. She had not done that before...why now?

[mroracal]

when I think of Bufford Pusser I want to think of him as the guy in the film that aired every summer during fox tuff guy week.I find it hard to believe that he could have killed his wife then had someone shoot him in the face but the fact that a law man would let his wife accompany him on a call it seems had to phantom I hope its not true he killed his wife but his story is paper thin

[mikeelam2010]

@mroracal I have interviewed several people about this matter....,everyone from the county coroner of that time to the state medical examiner of that day and all find the circumstances to be very odd. The state medical examiner told me that the investigating TBI agent was concerned because the Pusser's were supposed to be separated yet she was with him on an early morning call in what Pusser alleged was the most dangerous part of the county...Why? There is more to this story tahn Buford told.

[50dcoop]

I have always admired BP and hate to buy into this scenario. And it seems a little difficult to believe that he would shoot himself in the face to help set up his side of the story, but I always found it unbelievable that he would allow Pauline to ride along with him - especially after all the other acts of violence he had witnessed in the recent past. This would seem to be indicative of two things: (1) there was an ulterior motive in making this trip or (2) BP was a complete moron.

[mikeelam2010]

@50dcoop According to Buford's stepdaugther Diane Vance, Pauline had called her and asked her to come home from memphis as she and Buford were having marital problems. According to Lavon Plunk, Pauline's best friend, Pauline was planning to leave Buford and report his corruption. She was killed the day the were to leave on vacation to go to her parents in Haysi VA. Buford had to make the ambush look good. Visit crimemyths for photos of Buford's face and car etc. Crimemyths on yahoo groups.

[Unabombershack]

Not very accurate with the time lapse at the start of the video. We don't even get to see the car drive by. When did you start? 30 seconds after the car passed the church? And you're not a very good driver even in the daylight. I see where you're going with this, but you did a poor job at trying to prove anything.

[mikeelam2010]

@Unabombershack When we shot this we were curious and wanted to prove for ourselves whether or not a Cadillac could have caught up with Buford as he described. We realize the production was not all that great and we do intend to re-shoot this so that the car can be seen as it passes by and that the chase begins immediately, but the result will be the same. What you see is the factual result, We wanted to see where it would take us. It shows us that Buford lied.

[mikeelam2010]

@mikeelam2010 We were not out to make a Hollywoood production, but rather to see if stories that a Cadillac chased down Pusser could have been true. I would certainly encourage everyone to duplicate the ambush story for themeselves. It might be the only way some people will be consvinced that the ambush story is pure bunk.

[RickyRP64]

I never understood why Pauline was with him that early morning.In the movie he was on his way to read the Riot Act to some moonhiner.The actual call was a fight.Not something you'd wanna take your wife to.

[mikeelam2010]

@RickyRP64 Pauline's best friend told me that Buford and Pauline were separated at the time of the ambush, so why indeed were they together? Also, Buford's step daughter Diane Vance said in a magazine article interview (see crimemyths) that Pauline called her in Memphis and asked her to come home as pauline and Buford were having troubles. Why take your wife in the predawn hours to the most dangerous part of the county? Buford's actions are very questionable in this event.

[RickyRP64]

In the Mississippi Burning case of 1964 the victims were pursued on paved and gravel roads with speeds that toped 100 mph! I'm saying it is poSsible.

[mikeelam2010]

@RickyRP64 Sorry, I was involved in the recostruction of the chase. We used a Cadillac and we recontructed in daylight, not during predawn hours without headlights. Even then, it wasn't even close.

[RickyRP64]

@mikeelam2010 Ok you got me intereSted now.

[mikeelam2010]

@RickyRP64 The real story is far more interesting than "Walking Tall".

[bgshort99]

very interesting..but i do find it hard to believe that a man would shoot himself or have someone else shoot him in the face if he was going to stage something like that.

[bgshort99]

@bgshort99 i guess he could have possibly tried to graze himself but 5 times? i would like to know more about the wounds, the ambulance, etc.

[mikeelam2010]

@bgshort99 In January 67. He was grazed in the left arm and wonded on the left cheek. Both minor wounds, one night in hospital. December 1968 Buford shot and killed Russ Hamilton allegedly in self defense. The handle of Pusser's gun was struck, 1 bullet allegedly grazed his stomach... did not even go to doctor. Allegedly stabbed in the chest by unknown hitch hiker, wounds were again superficial Rumor...he was stabbed by girlfriend. 1 account, he claimed to have been stabbed, no wound.

[thebeautifulman69]

@mikeelam2010 thanks for the info

[mikeelam2010]

@bgshort99 Keep in mind that no one was ever arrested for this ambush. No Cadillac was ever located. Pusser's story is the only connection to the Cadillac. I was told by Pauline's best friend that the Pussers were separated at the time of the ambush. Pauline had threatened to leave him and report his corruption. MANY locals believe he murdered her to keep her from talking and wounded himself to make it look good. Some believe Buford was double crossed by those helping stage the ambush.

[bgshort99]

@mikeelam2010 well i could possibily buy the double-cross theory. didnt the sheriff named hille colemen die in a mysterious car accident two days before the election?

[mikeelam2010]

@bgshort99 The sheriff who died was Janes Dickie.  Ran of the road and struck a tree.

[bgshort99]

@bgshort99 oic..you seem to know a lot about him..maybe, i am wrong but from everything i've read, i kinda see him like wyatt earp...very overblown and a man who straddled the law..when i was a young kid, i thought this guy was a god after i watched the movie..do not see it the same way as an adult...

[mikeelam2010]

@bgshort99 Buford was a hero of mine until about 2005. Thats when I made my first trip to McNairy County. That was also the same year that I saw the autopsy report on Louise Hathcock. 2006 brought the photos of the Plymouth Fury after the ambush and questions continued to mount. The last four years have been filled with interviews from people who lived the story with Buford. This year..., reconstructions. I no longer see Buford as a hero..., like Earp, he is now just a part of history.

[mikeelam2010]

@bgshort99 I didn't mean to imply that I know more about him. I certainly don't know what kind of research you have done. It isn't just what I have read, but what I have been told by people that knew Buford, made deals with him etc. According to them, he didn't just straddle the law..., he knowing stepped over the line. Go to crimemyths and read the Cammy Wislon artilce in the file section and see what Buford's own step daughter had to say about Buford.

[bgshort99]

@mikeelam2010 yeah, it does sound like he did more than straddle it and was a thug. i wonder if he set up a hit on his wife then after the killer got his money, he decided to kill pusser but didnt suceed. i saw a pic of the face wound and it is just hard to imagine that it was self inflicted.

[mikeelam2010]

@bgshort99 I don't believe Buford had to pay to get help with Pauline's death. If Pauline had been allowed to report Buford's corruption lots of Club owners, bootleggers and moonshiners would have been in the spot liight along with Buford. They didn't want the attention either. One of these people may have agreed to help Buford and then double crossed him after Pauline was dead. That way, Pauline was out of the picture and they no longer had to pay Buford either. Think about it.

[bgshort99]

@mikeelam2010 i once read somewhere that buford pusser had a mistress that was a underage black girl. do you have any information on her? i forget what her name was.

[mikeelam2010]

@bgshort99 Her name is Pearl. Her uncle ran a club called Willie B's. Allegedly, Both Towhead Whie and Buford had a thing for Pearl.  She still lives in the area.

[bgshort99]

@mikeelam2010 do you know whatever became of bufford's son that was portrayed by leif garrent in walking tall? also, buffords father, carl pusser was said to have been the sheriif if mcnairy co at one time: was he well respected?

[mikeelam2010]

@bgshort99 Mike Vance was said by Dwana to have left the Pusser family Mike was Buford's step-son. I have been trying to locate him , but I have had little sucess. Mike's sister Diane, who was not shown in the movie, is still in the area but is gravely ill. Dwana is the only one of the three children you seem to hear from. Carl Pusser had been chief of police in Adamsville. He was never the county sheriff. While Helen Pusser was well thought of in the community, Carl was not.

[CherokeeGuardDog]

most great law men were corrupt.just about all from the old west were lol.

? is did they do more good then harm.famouse line from a flick [if a cop takes cream[means kick back]and still doing his job 99 % the time he a good cop.]? is how true is the state ment.

[mikeelam2010]

@CherokeeGuardDog  Many locals will argue about how much good Pusser did. Many will tell their own stories of his corruption including some people from the law enforcement side of the real story. Many will tell you that your estimated that he acted properly 99% of the time is FAR from accurate. I have interviewed several people who have given details of their arrangements (payoffs) to Pusser. I have newspaper clippings where county officials say "Walking Tall" was not a true story.

[CherokeeGuardDog]

why the hate you seam to have for this man this what 3rd or 4th video ?

[mikeelam2010]

@CherokeeGuardDog I have no hatred for the man as I was once a big fan. Istarted reseaching the story as I wanted to see how close the real story was to the movie"Walking Tall". After making several visits to McNairy County and meeting some of the people who lived the real story I started researching their claims that Buford was a corrupt sheriff. Some of these people were friends of Paulines. For more information on this type the word crimemyths in your internet search box.